Phone Scam: Beware

It's income-tax season.  Afraid of the IRS?  Scam artists are scarier.

This morning, I received a call from someone I don’t know, so I let the message machine answer.  The caller claimed it was an automated call that constituted our final notice that the IRS is filing lawsuit against us.  We were directed to call a number immediately for more information.  I assumed it was a scam and reported it to the FTC. 

Be wary of such calls.  The IRS’s website indicates that the agency will never call to demand immediate payment or call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.  It will also not demand that you pay taxes without offering an opportunity to appeal or ask questions, will not threaten to bring in law enforcement groups or arrest you for not paying taxes, and will not ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone.  The IRS also does not send unsolicited email or text messages to discuss individuals’ tax issues.

Some of these scam artists may have personal information about you that they will use to make them sound legitimate.  If you receive a call such as this, do not give the caller personal information, and if the caller gives you a number to contact, don’t.  If you have questions, you can call the IRS directly yourself at 1-800-829-1040.  The IRS website at irs.gov also has information about how to report suspicious calls from callers identifying themselves as IRS representatives..